Perioperative FLOT(D) With Personalized Ultrafractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiotherapy (PULSAR) in Esophageal Cancer

NCT07700420 | Not Yet Recruiting Phase 1 DMC FDA Device

• 1 other identifier: STU20250653
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the safety of the addition of PULSAR radiation to standard of care chemotherapy and immunotherapy in people with esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer and to determine the safest dose of radiation that can be used. Participants in this study will be undergoing clinically scheduled procedures. In addition to the standard of care visits and treatments, there will be additional visits and assessments with radiation.

Conditions

Gastro-esophageal Junction (GEJ) Cancer; Esophagus Cancer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of PULSAR

  To determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of PULSAR that produces a Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT) rate of 30% when interdigitated with perioperative FLOT(D) chemotherapy. The RP2D of PULSAR will be determined by toxicity assessed by NCI CTCAE v5.0 toxicity criteria

  First administration of radiotherapy (RT) to 60 days after completion of RT or day of surgery, whichever occurs first

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Adverse events description per NCI CTCAE version 5.0

  Baseline until 60 days after completion of study-related activities; up to 5-years of follow-up.

• Pathological response rates

  Time of enrollment to date of surgery

• Overall Survival

  Time of enrollment to date of death or hospice; up to after the last patient entering the study has completed 5-years of follow-up

• Disease-free survival

  Time of surgical resection until date of death, recurrence, development of new primary tumor, or hospice enrollment- up to 5-years of follow-up.

• Proportion of patients who undergo R0 resection

  Time of resection

Study Arms (1)

PULSAR radiation in combination with perioperative FLOT(D)

EXPERIMENTAL

PULSAR radiation plus FLOT(D) Each cycle of FLOT(D) consists of 5-fluorouracil 2600 mg/m2 administered over 24 hours, leucovorin 200 mg/m2 administered over 2 hours, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 administered over 2 hours and docetaxel 50 mg/m2 administered over 1 hour. All medications are administered intravenously via mediport. Durvalumab 1500 mg will be administered intravenously over 1 hour according to the usual q4 week schedule - with every other chemo cycle. On completion of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Radiation: PULSAR- Personalized Ultra-fractionated Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy; Drug: FLOT (Fluorouracil+Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin+Docetaxel)(D)

Interventions

PULSAR- Personalized Ultra-fractionated Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy RADIATION

-1 5.5 Gy x 4 Fractions 1. 6 Gy x 4 Fractions 2. 6 Gy x 4 Fractions with simultaneous boost to gross disease to 7 Gy x 4 Fractions 3. 6 Gy x 4 Fractions with simultaneous boost to gross disease to 8 Gy x 4 Fractions

PULSAR radiation in combination with perioperative FLOT(D)

FLOT (Fluorouracil+Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin+Docetaxel)(D) DRUG

5-fluorouracil 2600 mg/m2 leucovorin 200 mg/m2 ad oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 docetaxel 50 mg/m2 Durvalumab 1500 mg All medications are administered intravenously via mediport.

PULSAR radiation in combination with perioperative FLOT(D)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• At least 18 years of age at date of enrollment. Both men and women and members of all races and ethnic groups will be included.
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
• Pathologic diagnosis of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. GEJ cancer includes Siewart types 1 and 2 tumors. Siewart type 3 is also eligible as long as the patient is intended to be treated in the same way as for type 1 and 2 tumors (i.e. candidate for FLOT-(D), resectable, amenable to radiation)
• T1N+ or T2-4N(any) by the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual 8th edition
• Primary tumor (and lymph nodes) that appear to be resectable in the opinion of an experienced thoracic surgeon or surgical oncologist 19.
• Measurable disease by RECIST 1.1 is not a requirement in order to enroll on this study. Those who have measurable disease at baseline will be followed by RECIST 1.1 criteria at time of restaging.
• Primary tumor (and applicable nodal sites) that appears amenable to radiation in the opinion of an experienced radiation oncologist.
• Eastern cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1
• No prior systemic treatment or radiation for esophageal/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Patients who have received prior endoscopic therapies with subsequent recurrence necessitating curative-intent surgery will be eligible for enrollment.
• Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:
• ANC ≥1500/mL 10.1 Platelet ≥100,000/mL 10.2 Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.0 x the upper limit of normal (ULN). This will not apply to patients with confirmed Gilbert's syndrome, who will be allowed in consultation with their physician.
• AST and/or ALT both ≤ 1.5x ULN with alkaline phosphatase ≤2.5x ULN 10.4 Creatinine Clearance ≥ 30 mL/min by Cockroft Gault
• All men, as well as women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) starting with the first dose of radiation through 120 days after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
• a. A woman of child-bearing potential is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, marital status, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria:
• Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with adenosquamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, GI stromal tumor, or neuroendocrine tumor (any grade) of the esophagus or GEJ.
• Receipt of prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both for esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer (any type).
• Any other active malignancies besides localized skin cancers or in situ carcinomas. Patients with localized prostate or breast cancers who have been stable for ≥ 6 months on adjuvant therapy without evidence of active disease will be eligible to enroll on this study. Patients with a history of cancer that has not been active in the last 5 years may be included but only after consultation with the principal investigator.
• Prior RT to the chest or abdomen (not esophagus/GEJ) that would, in the opinion of a radiation oncologist, limit the safety of PULSAR.
• Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) intermediate or poor metabolizer phenotype where administration of full dose 5-fluoruracil would be prohibitively toxic. It is not a requirement to test DPYD deficiency prior to enrollment. Patients found to be DPYD intermediate or poor metabolizers through the course of standard of care evaluation will be removed from the protocol and followed for DLTs. These patients will be replaced.
• Uncontrolled comorbid illness or condition including congestive heart failure, unstable angina, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness that would limit compliance with study requirements or that would be prohibitive of a surgical resection in the opinion of a surgical oncologist or thoracic surgeon.
• Chemotherapy, or other systemic cancer therapy for non-esophageal or GEJ cancer within 52 weeks prior to starting study treatment (with the exception of long-term adjuvant therapy for curative-intent prostate or breast cancer, as defined above).
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to FLOT chemotherapy, durvalumab or other agents used in study.
• Subjects must not be pregnant or nursing due to the potential for congenital abnormalities and the potential of this regimen to harm nursing infants.
• Unwilling or unable to undergo placement of chest wall mediport for chemotherapy administration.
• Any autoimmune condition requiring immunosuppression beyond physiologic doses of steroids will not be eligible for receipt of durvalumab. Patient would still be eligible for enrollment for receipt of perioperative FLOT only and can enroll on this study while receiving FLOT.
• Requirement of prednisone 10 mg (or prednisone equivalent) or more daily for any reason (Inhalational steroids for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or the like, is allowable). Patient would still be eligible for enrollment for receipt of perioperative FLOT only if they are meeting all other eligibility criteria.
• Judgment by the Investigator that the patient should not participate in the study if the patient is unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions, and requirements.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms; Esophageal Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Esophageal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases

Study Officials

• Timothy Brown, MD

  University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jennifer Knight

CONTACT

214-648-7097; Jennifer.Knight@UTSouthwestern.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 8, 2026
• First Posted: July 14, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2031
• Last Updated: July 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

US (1)